Zachary Carter struck a rapid half-century after Shadab Khan produced an outstanding bowling spell as the Desert Vipers defeated the San Francisco Unicorns by nine wickets at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday.
Carter was named Player of the Match after scoring 55 from 29 balls and taking one wicket as the Vipers chased down 152 in just 16.1 overs. Saiteja Mukkamalla finished unbeaten on 52, while Rilee Rossouw made an undefeated 38.
The Unicorns won the toss and elected to bat, posting 151 for seven from their 20 overs. However, the total proved insufficient as the Vipers completed the chase with 23 balls remaining.
Carter gave the Vipers a flying start, hitting seven fours and three sixes during a 74-run opening partnership with Mukkamalla. Anirudh Immanuel ended the stand when he bowled Carter in the ninth over, but it was the only success for the Unicorns.
Mukkamalla continued steadily, striking three fours and two sixes in his 42-ball innings. Rossouw then accelerated with six fours from 26 deliveries as the pair shared an unbroken 78-run partnership to secure the victory.
Earlier, Tim Robinson and Connor Esterhuizen gave the Unicorns a solid start with a 64-run opening stand. Esterhuizen scored 37 from 29 balls, including six fours, while Robinson top-scored with 46 from 35 deliveries, hitting five fours and one six.
Shadab broke the partnership by taking a return catch to dismiss Esterhuizen before removing Robinson with the score on 89. He also accounted for Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who made 15, and bowled Fabian Allen without scoring.
The Unicorns slipped from 89 for one to 125 for six as the Vipers tightened their grip on the innings. Oliver Peake made 14 from nine balls, captain Hassan Khan struck seven from four, and Immanuel contributed five.
Hammad Azam provided a late boost with an unbeaten 21 from 13 balls, including two sixes, while Callum Stow finished on one not out.
Shadab ended with impressive figures of four for 13 from four overs. Carter claimed one for nine, Nathan Smith took one for 28, and Khary Pierre finished with one for 35.
Immanuel was the Unicorns’ only successful bowler, taking one for 26 from four overs. Allen conceded just eight runs from his two overs, but the remaining bowlers were unable to contain the Vipers’ batters.
Discussion